Maisei Wins Hong Kong Marathon

Perseverance has paid off for Julius Maisei. The Kenyan prevailed at the 17th edition of the Hong Kong Marathon. His finishing time was 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 18 seconds.

Maisei had come in fourth place last year and was second in the race two years ago.

With 3K to go separated himself from fellow Kenyan James Mbugua and Ethiopia’s Deribe Robi.

“I was getting stressed with so many people being in the group,” Maisei recalled. “I was wondering when they were going to break up. I was feeling strong, but I just didn’t know about the others. At about 39-and-a-half, I could see the 40K marker, I decided to move. I thought that if they catch me now, they deserve to win.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s division Misiker Mekonnin Demissie defended her title with a 2:30:49 finishing time.

“It was windy, it was very hard, because it was in the face a lot,” she said. “I felt good, and confident, and now I feel very happy”.